Random Thoughts 15: Crystal Clear 2021 Edition

[SCyclone]

I saw something about it in a basketball thread and I thought I would bring the dirty laundry to this thread. Before you boo and throw things at me hear me out.

When referring to one pair of boxers, whitey tighties, thongs or granny panties do you use the singular or plural form. I grew up saying something like this:

The racing stripe has gotten too dark on this pair of underwear. I'm throwing them in the wash.

While Mrs. Velo would say something like:

Don't touch my underwear; it is sacred ground.

When talking about one pair of underwear there is good reason to use either. What do you do?

Anxiously waiting to see your underwear (takes)...

I always use the plural, in this case. (Waiting for @Ms3r4ISU to correct me.)

 

[SCyclone]

Man if only. I think it would be amazing to experience one of those several feet of snow events. Just hang out by a fire and enjoy the beauty.

Well, at least until the snow piled up over the windows.

 

[VeloClone]

You should all appreciate that I have raised the level of discourse on this thread to underwear.



You're welcome.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

You have my permission to call it a day.

Wish I could. On first of three online sessions now. Four yesterday, one of which I wrote down the wrong time. Lots of sighs.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I always use the plural, in this case. (Waiting for @Ms3r4ISU to correct me.)

(Sorry, I always mess up the multiquote.)
Since you mentioned me, in that sentence "The racing stripe has gotten too dark on this pair of underwear. I'm throwing them in the wash."
"them" refers to "pair" and "pair" can be either singular or plural, depending on how it's being used. So, if Velo is wearing two sets of underwear, "pair" would be plural and perfectly acceptable...

BTW, underwear can be singular or plural, too.

Definition of UNDERWEAR

clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

 

[BuffettClone]

But when you speak about them/it do you use a plural or singular pronoun?

The wife says underwear or boxers and uses the singular. I say underwear or boxers and use the plural.

Indicate which you would use in this sentence:

I need to wash this pair of underwear; these are/it is dirty.

I go back and forth with the singular or plural depending on which term I use. If I use the term underwear it is singular but the term boxers demands the plural pronoun/being verb. To me the term pair is a singular term referring to two items as one.

I tend to treat this the same way I treat team and team names. "Team" to me is a collective singular noun, so for me it is always "the team is..." Same way I reply to my wife when she asks how a game is going, depending on which term I use to refer to the Iowa State Cyclones. I use singular pronouns/being verbs if I use Iowa State and plural if I use Cyclones.

I just realized I typed a bunch of stuff and didn't really say or explain anything...

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

But when you speak about them/it do you use a plural or singular pronoun?

The wife says underwear or boxers and uses the singular. I say underwear or boxers and use the plural.

Indicate which you would use in this sentence:

I need to wash this pair of underwear; these are/it is dirty.

We're supposed to wash underwear?

Plural
I need to wash this pair of underwear; they are dirty
I either say Boxers or Boxer Shorts

 

[Entropy]

OK. The ad for the cool job I applied for last week (the day it opened) is down now. I guess we go into the waiting.
Probably not much waiting either way, but waiting.

This would be sweet, too. Full-time, steady, and they need someone that can teach both of the U.S. survey courses.
One of the profs there was my first TA in History here at ISU (a long, long time ago).

Good luck! In my experience it takes about a month from the post coming down for interviews to start.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I saw something about it in a basketball thread and I thought I would bring the dirty laundry to this thread. Before you boo and throw things at me hear me out.

When referring to one pair of boxers, whitey tighties, thongs or granny panties do you use the singular or plural form. I grew up saying something like this:

The racing stripe has gotten too dark on this pair of underwear. I'm throwing them in the wash.

While Mrs. Velo would say something like:

Don't touch my underwear; it is sacred ground.

When talking about one pair of underwear there is good reason to use either. What do you do?

Anxiously waiting to see your underwear (takes)...

Plural. It's panties, not pant.

 

[CycloneErik]

Good luck! In my experience it takes about a month from the post coming down for interviews to start.

Thanks!
The waiting's never good for the heart, but it's not like anyone speeds these things up.
So, I'll be anxious and hopeful at the same time.

 

[VeloClone]

Plural. It's panties, not pant.

I grew up with sisters who wore "panties" but Mrs. Velo hates that term. I'm not sure why.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I go back and forth with the singular or plural depending on which term I use. If I use the term underwear it is singular but the term boxers demands the plural pronoun/being verb. To me the term pair is a singular term referring to two items as one.

I tend to treat this the same way I treat team and team names. "Team" to me is a collective singular noun, so for me it is always "the team is..." Same way I reply to my wife when she asks how a game is going, depending on which term I use to refer to the Iowa State Cyclones. I use singular pronouns/being verbs if I use Iowa State and plural if I use Cyclones.

I just realized I typed a bunch of stuff and didn't really say or explain anything...

Hmmm. Well, I suppose panties do "collect" something...

 

[ImJustKCClone]

We're supposed to wash underwear?

Plural
I need to wash this pair of underwear; they are dirty
I either say Boxers or Boxer Shorts

Read this to Lew - he laughed. Then he said "only if you throw them against the wall and they stick."

But I do wonder which pronoun/pronouns folks who go commando use...

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I grew up with sisters who wore "panties" but Mrs. Velo hates that term. I'm not sure why.

"panties" is probably the most socially acceptable term my sisters and I used.

 

[SCyclone]

I go back and forth with the singular or plural depending on which term I use. If I use the term underwear it is singular but the term boxers demands the plural pronoun/being verb. To me the term pair is a singular term referring to two items as one.

I tend to treat this the same way I treat team and team names. "Team" to me is a collective singular noun, so for me it is always "the team is..." Same way I reply to my wife when she asks how a game is going, depending on which term I use to refer to the Iowa State Cyclones. I use singular pronouns/being verbs if I use Iowa State and plural if I use Cyclones.

I just realized I typed a bunch of stuff and didn't really say or explain anything...

S'Ok, you're still a long way from @Sigmapolis territory.

 

[SCyclone]

Just had a thread thought.....it would have to be a sub-thread to RTT. I think it might be fun for everyone to make a list of the following:

What celebrity (actor/singer/game show host/etc) does each person in RTT remind you of? As a perfectly random thought, it might be kinda interesting.

LMK and how I should proceed, if everyone's liking the idea.

 

[Sigmapolis]

S'Ok, you're still a long way from @Sigmapolis territory.

Maybe get some new material.

While posting however, I might as well bring up a question I have...

What's the deal with airline food?

 

[SCyclone]

Maybe get some new material.

While posting however, I might as well bring up a question I have...

What's the deal with airline food?

I like that. Not only a perfectly random thought, but channeling your inner Seinfeld.

Well done!

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Just had a thread thought.....it would have to be a sub-thread to RTT. I think it might be fun for everyone to make a list of the following:

What celebrity (actor/singer/game show host/etc) does each person in RTT remind you of? As a perfectly random thought, it might be kinda interesting.

LMK and how I should proceed, if everyone's liking the idea.

I can't say I have ever even thought something like that

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

What's the deal with airline food?

For some reason that made me thinks of this